[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 14905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8112]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 032398C]


Marine Mammals

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. 
Box 1239, Seward, AK 99664, has been issued a permit to import Steller 
sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and 
obtain other harbor seals from U.S. facilities for purposes of 
scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907/ 586-7221).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Shapiro or Ruth Johnson, 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 27, 1998, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (63 FR 3880) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to import Steller sea lions and harbor seals had been 
submitted by the above-named organization. The requested permit has 
been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing 
the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR parts 217-227).
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: March 23, 1998.
Art Jeffers,
Acting Chief, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8112 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F